Family's passports, cash, laptops stolen from KZN South Coast resort

A New Zealand family's holiday on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast turned tragic when their passports and valuables were stolen during a burglary. Riaan du Plooy, 42, a businessman living in New Zealand, was in Manaba Beach with his daughter and brother-in-law when the theft occurred. Du Plooy noticed his phone missing around 4:15 AM and confronted the intruder, alerting authorities once he secured his daughter's safety.

The thieves took three passports, three phones, a laptop, around R2,000 in cash, and personal items. The family, set to depart on August 25, offered a R10,000 reward for the return of the passports, as the delays in obtaining replacements would be costly and inconvenient. Du Plooy and his daughter, both New Zealand citizens, have arranged for replacement passports through New Zealand authorities.

The incident has left them questioning their future visits to South Africa. Du Plooy's brother-in-law, Sean Shanahan, a South African living in New Zealand, also faced passport issues as he must use a South African document. He too has had to cancel his flight and extend his stay in South Africa to obtain a new passport, facing long queues and unexpected expenses.